Container



Nov. 11, 1952 M. R. FIELDS 2,617,419

CONTAINER Filed March 9, 1949 2 Sl-lEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. Mi 5. ZZeZchNov. 11, 1952 R, FIELDS 2,617,419

CONTAINER Filed March 9, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 CONTAINER Mack R. Fields, Libertyville llL,assignor to 'Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago,v 111., a corpo,--

ration of-Illinoisr:

Application 'March' 9, 1949, Serial No. 80,539

9 Claims. (Cl. 128272) My invention relatesto an improved medicinalcontainer and more-specificallytog container for use in a powderedmedicament .inhalingdevice, such as the device describedin mycopend-ving application Serial No, 24,319,1iled April 30, l948 nw Patent No.2,470,296.

The device according to my'invention is=especially useful and convenientin the administration of a powdered medicament-by in-halationoi thepatient and includes among its-obiects'im proved methods of manufactureof such containers.

Figure-1 is a perspectlveof a containeraccording to the invention;

Figure 2 Ba sectionalview of'the same Kcon tainer, and Figure 3 is anelevation of the foraminated end;

Figure 4 is a cross section of the closure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is'a cross section of a modification;

Figure 6 is a-perspecti-ve ofa holder for-use with the container;

Figure '7 is a section-indicatinga modified-closure-and Figure 8 is" abottom elevation oithe embodiment of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is across section-of amodified-con tamer and closure; andFigure-'10 is an-elev-ation of the embodiment of Figure 9.-

In the embodiment of thedevice-selected-ior illustration in Figures '1to 4, the-main housing It] is a transparent-molded-plastic body.- Thebody includes the tubular-portion-l-l; closedbya concave upper end wall[2, and-a foraminated lower end wall l8,-to define-the-chamber forthepowdered medicament.

The-cup-shaped piece-M-has a slightly tapered exterior side wall H, astraight interior" side wall 36, and an outwardly bulgedperforatedendwall it, having a convex radius of curvature of about 5times the subtendedarc. The cup- Mengages the body it in tightirictionalengagement-and is so constructed and assembled that there isatight and smooth joint at-the bottom 35 of the rabbet. The tight, smoothjoint'at- 354s necessary so that none of the powdered medicament will belodged at the junction between 'the' cup l4 and the body It. The cup I4is of a softresilient plastic material.

Means are provided for assembling-the containerin a holder; such as theholderfifl'of Figure 6. I have illustrated the barrel ill-with anoutwardly projecting flange l 9, having two engaging lugs 20, and ahandle 2| for manipulation; The handle 2| has a knurled section 22 tofacilitate handling.

The container'isfilledatthe factory with the, powdered medicament andthe cup I4 is inserted into .the rabbetll'. of: the body [0, andpushedin tightly The rubber closure 15 is fitted onto the barrel l0:with tight frictional engagement- In undistorted conditionthe bottom 25.of the closure .[5 isibulged. inwardly, so that whenassemble dzitsnugly. engages the, exteriorsurface of ;-cup Hl'as indicated inFigure-2.

The medicament container ofthetype contemplated isused. in inhalingdevicesfor administration ofpfinely comminutednmedicaments; Such acontainer. readily adapts itselfto piece-mealadministration of; thetotaldose ofm'edicament con,. tained therein... The :container maybeused'in devices .of..various types, for example; inhaling devices wherethe container is agitated by a moving object .to..produce.an:impact-to..dispense a small amount. of powder, on each. impact,.devices where the container itself. is moved and asmall amount ofpowder is discharged by the impact of the container and a stationarystop',;devices where the container .is stationary and air is forcedthroughthe perforations to agitate and pick up a small amount ofpowdendevices where the en-. tire device including the holder as well asthe container is jolted atappropriate timesto release small amounts ofpowder, and the like. Insuch a holder 60. as that of Figure 6 thecontainer is stationary and a ball piston in the guide tube 6|. shakes,the containerrat, the beginning of each inhalation..

In the embodiment of Figure 5 the molded cup Silhas-gan integralforaminated end 3| having holes 5! The closure l5 engages the barrel-30; in. a tight'engagement coveringzthe holesEB; and the powderedmedicament is filled, into chamber 5 l. .The top 32 carrying-themanipulatin handle 2! is-then fitted onto the cup 3! in, permanentassembly asby a frictional fit, threadedengagee ment, gluedtengagement,etc.

In the embodiment of Figure 9-the cup-shaped end-piece 53issimilar'to-cupl4 except for'having a rimgl to receive the closure 52;The'closure 52 is retained by edgeengageinent with the rim and carriesan integral. retroverted tab 54;- by means of which it can readily bedisengaged and removed.

In Figures? and 8 the cover 33 is appliedtothe cup M; It has a tab 40 tofacilitate removal, and may be held in-place by adhesive.

In'Figures '7 and 9 a protective closure such as a thinmetal foil33..and.52. respectively, or alike material, engagesthe perforated end.of the cone tainer. :In Figure 7 the closure 33 is glued o'nand 3 inFigure 9 the closure 52 frictionally engages a slight rim ll on cup 53.The closure 33 may be removed by means of the tab 40, which will cleaveaway from the cup l4 when pulled. Likewise the closure 52 is removedfrom engagement with rim 4|, by means of a pull on tab 54.

The dimensions of the holes in the perforated end wall of the containermay be designed to secure effective retention of various kinds ofpowder, except when jolted, taking into consideration the grain size andflow characteristics of the particular powder involved. Then the numberof holes can be made such as to secure the desired amount of dischargewith one jolting. It is possible to secure the desired characteristicsin both respects, and still have the end wall sufficiently open topermit the powder to be blown out through one portion of the end wall 18by blowing an air current in through another portion of the same endwall 13. As an illustration, I have discovered that with powderedpenicillin seven tapered holes are very satisfactory for dispensing suchpowder. The desired taper on the holes is obtained by having theexterior diameter of the hole 0.052 inch and the interior diameter ofthe hole 0.045 inch, when the end wall IB is about 0.015 inch thick. Theend wall and holes of these dimensions have proved satisfactory with acontainer of about 0.25 inch internal diameter and about 0.5 inch long.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditionsof service, by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed orequivalents thereof. All the materials specifically disclosedhereinabove may be replaced to suit various service conditions. It isdesirable, however, to have a transparent container so that it ispossible to ascertain the amount of powder remaining in the container.As at present advised with respect to the scope of my invention I desireto claim the following subject matter.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container for powdered medicament comprising, incombination; two elements telescopically assembled to define a chamber;one of said elements being a tubular member having a concave end wall atone end and a tapered rabbet comprising a substantial portion of theinternal tubular wall at the other end thereof; the other said elementbeing an internally fitting cup having an exterior tapered wall, astraight interior wall, and a perforated end wall having a plurality ofoutwardly tapered perforations.

2. A dispensing container for powdered medicament comprising, incombination: two elements telescopically assembled to define a chamber;and a closure for sealing said chamber; one of said elements being atubular member having a concave imperforate end wall at one end, atapered rabbet comprising a substantial portion of the internal tubularwall at the other end of said tubular member, and external means forengaging a receiving holder; the other said element fitting in saidrabbet, having an exterior tapered side wall, a straight interior sidewall, and a perforated end wall having a plurality of outwardly taperedperforations; said closure being cup shaped, and having an end wallengaging said perforated end wall, and a side wall fitting over theexternal side walls of said tubular member.

3. A dispensing container for powdered medicament comprising, incombination: two elements telescopically assembled to define a chamber;and a closure for sealing said chamber; one of said elements being atubular member having a concave imperforate end wall at one end, atapered rabbet comprising a substantial portion of the internal tubularwall at the other end of said tubular member, and external means forengaging a receiving holder; the other said element telescopicallyengaging said rabbet, having an exterior tapered side wall, a straightinterior side wall, a perforated end wall having a plurality ofoutwardly tapered perforations; said perforated end wall having anexterior axially projecting flange; said closure being an imperforatedisc engaging interiorly the said axial flange; and means fordisengaging said disc from said axial flange.

4. A dispensing container for powdered medicament comprising incombination: a sealed chamber having a perforate end wall containing acentral circular opening and six additional openings of the samediameter, uniformly spaced around the central openings; said end wallbeing outwardly convex with a radius of curvature about five times thesubtended arc; each hole being tapered with its large end outermost;each hole having its minimum inner diameter about three times the wallthickness and its maximum outer diameter about three and one half timesthe wall thickness.

5. A dispensing container for powdered medicament comprising, incombination: a tubular body; an imperforate concave end wall at one endof said body and an internal tapered rabbet at the opposite end thereof;an internal cupshaped closure seated in said rabbet closing the open endof said body; said closure having a plurality of outwardly taperedspaced openings adapted to dispense powdered content; an axially alignedhandle extending beyond said imperiorate end wall; a radial flangeencircling said body adjacent said handle; positioning lugs oppositelyradiating on said flange; and a removable seal closing saidperforations.

6. A dispensing container for powdered medicament comprising, incombination: two elements telescopically assembled to define a chamber;one of said elements being a tubular member having a concave end wall atone end and an inwardly-facing tapered rabbet at the other end thereof;the other said element being an internally fitting cup having anexterior tapered wall of a dimension to be forced into said rabbettightly enough to secure a substantially permanent assembly, a straightinterior wall, and a perforate end wall.

'7. A dispensing container for powdered medicament comprising, incombination: two elements telescopically assembled to define a chamber;one of said elements having an imperforate closed end portion and atubular portion extending away from said closed end portion; the edge ofsaid tubular portion having an inwardly facing tapered rabbet; the othersaid element being an internally fitting cup having an exterior taperedwall of a dimension to be forced into said rabbet tightly enough tosecure a substantially permanent assembly; said cup having a perforatedbottom at the large end of said tapered wall; the small end of saidtapered wall presenting an annular surface lying in a transverse planeto abut the small end of said tapered rabbet; said tapered wall andtubular portion having the same internal diameter in the plane ofabutment, whereby the assembled parts present a smooth confining surfaceto the contents of said contain- 8. A dispensing container for powderedmedicament comprising, in combination: two elements telescopicallyassembled to define a chamber; one of said elements having animperiorate closed end portion and a tubular portion extending away fromsaid closed end portion; the edge of said tubular portion having aninwardly facing tapered rabbet; the other said element being aninternally fitting cup having an exterior tapered wall of a dimension tobe forced into said rabbet tightly enough to secure a substantiallypermanent assembly; said cup having a perforated bottom at the large endof said tapered wall; the small end of said tapered wall presenting anannular surface lying in a transverse plane to abut the small end ofsaid tapered rabbet.

9. A dispensing container for powdered medicament comprising, incombination: two elements telescopically assembled to define a chamcber; one of said elements having an imperiorate closed end portion and atubular portion extending away from said closed end portion; the edge ofsaid tubular portion having an inwardly facing tapered rabbet; the othersaid element being an internally fitting cup having an ex- REFERENCESCITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 162,860 Sheldon May 4, 1875388,202 Ives Aug. 21, 1888 1,127,611 Friday Feb. 9, 1915 2,409,118 FleakOct. 8, 1946 2,470,298 Fields May 17, 1949

